This Dylan song, Girl from the north country, always reminds me of winter, and it's a must listen during this time of the year. Not just because of the lovely lyrics (with references to one of his many lovers on his early twenties, who actually was a girl from a north country), but because it reminds me of past winters when a friend of mine used to play it on his guitar for me. It started one cold evening, six or seven years ago, as we were sitting by the fireplace of his grandparent's old country house, with other friends, and we were listening to The Freewheelin' on a record player. I said I loved this song since I was a little girl and my father used to play the cassette on his car, and he said: "I know how to play it". Then he went to study abroad and this song became a reminder of the good cold winter days we spent together. I know I've talked you about my nostalgia during this time of the year in previous posts, but the nostalgia that comes with these memories is not a sad one. It's that good feeling of knowing that some people will always be there for you, 'cause you have created a very strong bond. And with Christmas just around the corner I have that feeling when I think that I'm going to see him and other friends, and we're gonna have a real good time together, like the days when he used to play Girl from the north country: long walks through the fields wearing cozy coats and soft wool jumpers, waking up late staying under the flannel sheets, making tea, eating the perfect home-made apple pie with my mother's recipe, and just enjoying the winter as much as one can. As it feels as I'm experiencing the seasonal affective disorder this year, I couldn't love more this Sylvia Plath quote:

"I must stop identifying with the seasons, because this English winter will be the death of me."

11 Dec 2013

Margaret Durow is a 24-year-old Wisconsin based photographer. I discovered her work years ago and I got mesmerized by it. Her pictures are full of emotions. You can feel you're part of the isolation, the bright lights and the shadows. The way she captures the landscapes, the animals and nature feels like you're watching a Tarkovsky or Malick film. You can go through all four seasons just by looking at her work. As we're big fans of her we decided to make a little interview with her, and this is what she kindly answered:

♦ When did you start taking photos? // ¿Cuándo empezaste a hacer fotos?

I started taking photos so I could look at them later and feel exactly what I felt at the time. I still try to do this and looking through old photos is an important part of the process for me. I am always filled with such nostalgia, and so many feelings that seem to contradict, but they fill me up, and I want to fill my photos with them - This heaviness / lightness, inspiration and dread, dreamy light, love, pain, vulnerability and strength. // Comencé a sacar fotos para poder verlas más tarde y sentir lo que sentí en ese momento. Todavía trato de hacer eso y mirar mis fotos antiguas es una parte importante del proceso para mí. Siempre estoy llena de esa nostalgia, y de muchos sentimientos que parecen contradecirse, pero que me llenan, y quiero llenar mis fotos con ellos - esta sensación de pesadez y ligereza, inspiración y temor, luz de ensueño, amor, dolor, fuerza y vulnerabilidad.

I am inspired by what I feel, how I see and remember things. The way I try to express this has been inspired by all artists and people I know - photographers, painters, musicians, scientists, etc. I've found the most inspiring photographers over the years by way of flickr. The ones that inspire me the most are those share the way they see and experience the world, the feelings they have about it. A few names that come to mind are Lina Scheynius, Maren Celest, Brigette Bloom, and Tina Sosna. //Estoy inspirada por lo que siento, cómo veo y recuerdo las cosas. La manera en la que intento expresar esto ha sido inspirada por todos los artistas y gente que conozco - fotógrafos, pintores, músicos, científicos, etc. He encontrado los fotógrafos más inspiradores a través de flickr. Los que más me inspiran son quienes comparten su forma de ver y experimentar el mundo, los sentimientos que tienen al respecto. Algunos nombres que me vienen a la mente son Lina Scheynius, Maren Celest, Brigette Bloom y Tina Sosna.

♦ What camera are you using? // ¿Qué cámara utilizas?

Canon rebel xti and Canon ae 1 // UnaCanon rebel xti y Canon ae 1.

♦ What projects do you have? // ¿Qué proyectos tienes?

I just self published a zine, Ephemeral Springs. I've been putting a lot of time into printing and shipping my prints, it makes me so happy that people want to hold them in their hands. I've also been trying to find a job. I graduated from UW Madison in Environmental Studies and Biological Conservation, and now am working in the Herbarium (mounting and photographing plant specimens) until the end of November. I'm hoping I can find a reliable job after this but I'm also working on my application for grad school and am thinking about going into Museum / Library Studies. But it's also time to get back to my photos. I have so many to go through and add to my portfolio! //Acabo de publicar un zine, Ephemeral Springs. He estado empleando un montón de tiempo en la impresión y el envío de las copias, me hace muy feliz que la gente quiera tenerlos en sus manos. También he intentado encontrar un trabajo. Me gradué de la Universidad de Wisconsin Madison en estudios ambientales y conservación biológica y ahora he estado trabajando en el herbario (fotografiando a especímenes de plantas) hasta finales de noviembre. Espero encontrar un trabajo estable después de esto, pero también estoy trabajando en mi solicitud para la escuela de posgrado y estoy pensando en ir a un Museo / Biblioteca. Pero también es hora de volver a mis fotos. ¡Tengo tantas que revisar y añadir a mi portfolio!